Aras just concluded their annual Aras Community Event (ACE) last month in Detroit, Michigan.  The two and a half-day event was packed with a combination of compelling customer stories, thought leadership, updates/roadmap for the Aras Innovator PLM solution, and practical and relevant implementation insights.  The uptick over last year’s attendance coupled with the addition of 32 new partners from around the globe, reinforces Aras as a disruptive player in the traditional PLM landscape.  Peter Schroer, President and CEO of Aras, kicked off the event.  He based his comments on conversations he had with customers and prospects over the past year, and what this means for Aras and its responsibility in the community.  His comments completely set the tone for the balance of the conference.  It was an open-palms conversation about what Aras is doing and needs to do to continue helping organizations drive business value and results.